Liquid-treating apparatus and method of treating liquids



April 14, 1931.

W. S. ELLIOTT LIQUID TREATINI: APPARATUS AND METHOD OF TREATING LIQUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet W- i lNyToif I April 14, 1931. w. s. ELLlOTT- 1,800,723

LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF TREATING LIQUIDS Filed Feb. 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 PATENT FFICE WILLIAIVI S. ELLIOTT, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA LIQUID-TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF TREATING LIQUIDS Application filed February 12, 1924. Serial No. 692,244.

The present invention relates, broadly, to heat exchange apparatus for the treatment of liquids, and more particularly to methods and apparatus of this character particularly 5 adapted for deaerating water.

It is highly desirable, as recognized in the art, to effect the separation from water of as much of the air and other contained gases as possible, particularly Where the water is to 19 be used in power plant equipment or apparatus requiring a heat exchanging operation. In this manner the corrosive property of the water is minimized in accordance with the degree of air separation or oxygen removal,

15 and the scale and encrustation forming properties are likewise greatly reduced.

In my Patent, No. 1,457 ,153, of May 29, 1923, I have disclosed one means of effecting the desired release of air by changing the phase of a definite percentage of the liquid.

I have found that in this manner very desirable and uniform results are obtained. Suchan operation requires the continuous evaporation of a sufficient quantity of the liquid being treated to insure the release therefrom of the contained vapors and gases. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide another means for insuring such temperature conditions that a constant evaporation or change in phase of the desired amount of liquid will take place.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown, more or less diagrammatically, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of the invention and that changes may be made in the construction and operation n disclosed therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of my broader claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating one embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line IIII of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention there is provided a feed Water heater 2 of the open type having in its upper portion one or more inlets 3 for the liquid to be treated. This liquid is adapted to be supplied to the chamber of the heater under definite pressure conditions as well understood in the art. Upon its entry into the chamber, the liquid is caused to flow in cascade over a series of agitating pans 4 whereby it is effectively broken up to facilitate partial release therefrom of air and gases and to permit the more rapid heating thereof. This liquid may conveniently be supplied to the heater through a condenser 5 having the usual inlet 6 and having its outlet 7 connected to the inlet of the feed water heater. Also, as is customary in this art, the supply of liquid may be automatically controlled in accordance with the requirements on the apparatus for air free or substantially air free liquid, by providing a float operated valve 8 actuated by level Within the heater.

Heating steam for the entering liquid ma the liquid be suppliedthrough asteam inlet 9 fed by I a manifold 10 which, in turn, receives its supply from a live or exhaust steam inlet 11. The passage of steam from the manifold 10 to the inlet 9 is controlled by a differentially unbalanced valve 12 whereby the quantity of heating steam at the inlet 9 may vary with respect to the steam pres sure in the manifold 10. The valve Will preferably be so set, however, that the steam pressure in the inlet 9, and consequently the temperature, will be less than the corresponding pressure and temperature in the manifold 10, and for best results, not less than the temperature maintained in the heater chamber.

Located below the agitating pans 4, and preferably in such position that they will normally be submerged below the liquid level in the heater, are tubes 13 adapted to constitute a second heating means. These tubes, at one end, may be connected to a header 14 adapted to have heating steam supplied thereto from the manifold 10 by means of a connection 15. By properly setting the valve 12, it will be apparent that the steam temperature and pressure in the to -1 r pply 3% unde a; pres ure. 1 516 is 1 tubes 13 may be higher than the temperature 7 and pressure in the inlet 9, and likewise the temperature within the heater 2. Condensate formed within. the tubes -13 may be withdrawn through a suitable condensate outlet 16, which outlet also functions to prevent the tubes from. becoming "air; bound by the. continuous condensation oi steam therein. 7 e

In order to obt'ain themost eflicient heat transfer between the previously agitated liquid andthetubes 13, it isdesirable to pro..- videmeans for insuring the passage ofthis liquid in contact with thetubes. For this purpose there may be provided on each side 7 ofthe apparatus longitudinally extending downwardly inclined. bafiles -,.17. serving to direct all of the liquid into-thezone occupied by. the-tubes.

In. some cases, it may. be desirable to operate. the heatenat, a'temperature. corresponding to a. pressure which, is, below atmospheric pressure. In such cases the condenser; will; tend-to, withdraw. the released vapors and gases from thevheater; 2

and will;v thereby; inaintainzthe desired; ther- ,.1nal conditiOnsjwithintherheater.- Itwill be understoodthat the particular design. of,

thecondenser may be much in, accordance, -with conditions under which. it; isgdesired to operate. 'the; heater. Noncondensible. e ses-may be w hdrawn from. thecondenser t ough he. u let. 18-1111. .any esi ed man.

n asbyan-eje 0r 19-. By utiliz ng; such. a condenser not only-arethe desiredthermal,

qncliti nslnaintained. Wi hinthe, h ater, but

the sensible heat of any vapors and gases leased; jle ein. s. Conse ved and; imparted the i .C m ng liquid.- or par ially pre heat ng. he-same. When p rating under u t ntially atmosp er e pressure. c nch? nsiheei to c 19. b omitted an l' he. den er ented-dir ct y t he m ph re- V-then. Oper t ngheater un lersuh-atmos-" P asti ondit e s, i wi l. h o s ha eremarxist;- Wi hin; h when a Steam P es re which is. lso. uh-atmQs.-'

= 'pher ci, As the Presentstate t h v art i t s the advis bi ity of: maintaini g: steam.

least; at1nospheric,; in order to prevent the infiltration ofair, its-ifs undesirable to have suchpressure; conditions. with fold 10 transmitted to the-ste supply 11.

I order 1 0 p vent.- suc a c n iti n awlll ii thest ms nply lin tlie i mayhe p e iii a alanced. alve. ructure Z 'haVing-a Pi a l. Q i phragm. I- ubjede'd on onev side to atrn ospheric.pressure, through, the

1 port QSgand on the other side tozmanifold pr ssure .th uaha pas ag 2., Th mania fold pressure may be} agljustably augmented r rel ed ne Spring .24., Whe bythe sir d;

operat ng conditionsiof the valve are in w b rfi-n eiiree atmospheric onsets.

} the, maniinstallations, the operation ofthe. present apparatus is not necessarily dependent thereon in certain-cases,

' In actual operatiom'thetemperature con- U ditionsmaintainedwithin. the heater 2 by. steam supplied through. the, inlet: v9 will preferably besuch. that the liquid is raised substantially to its boiling pointpat; the. pres,- sure obtaining Within the heater. .There-v after this liquid. is subjected to the action (if the second. heating means provided," which,

lieating,-ineans is at, ahigher temperature sufficient-to cause the evaporation of a defi: nite percentage-bf the liquid being treated.

" is both necessary and desirable in certain to thereby cause the release therefrom of the contained vapors and gases. "Thisevapora:

tion, or change in phase of afdefinite. per--.

centage of the liquidcauses therelease of-vznv porsv and gases andiconsequently, the dissipar tion of a certain amount ofheatw-ithinthe. heater. By reason oi tlieprovisionzof the condenser, however, 7 the; heat, dissipated in. this. vmanner isrecovered" and serves. to'preheat-the liquid in thefcondenser prior to; its;

entry into the-heating chamber. I

The .deaerated liquid .rnayif'bedrawn irom.

' the. apparatus. to thelpoint of 'usethrQughQa suitableoutlet:25 which:..may be connected with-a ,pump or. othen means, not shown; forpos-itively.withdrawingthe;liquid.

In some cases..it. may be desiredjto. supply steam ,t-o-the. heatingchamber. vfrom aninde pendent sourceiperhapsghaving. a lowenpress sure. than, that: supplied; to the tubes. .13; Such a source mi'ght conveniently; be allowerl turbine; stage from. which the steam. could be. bled atwillf In I such cases, the diiferein tial, pressure valve 12 could be. omitted en;- i

tirely, and separate suppl-y'lines provided.

The, advantages the. present invention arise fromthe provision of'a.compactappa ratus. which. maybe economically. operatedto effectthe release and removal o.:t;dissolved air. and other gases from liquid by first heatllf) ing the liquid to a predetermined:temperm ture and thereafter furtherheatingxthe.same to, produce; a change, inphaseof :aIsufficient percentage. of the liquidto efiect .the removal therefrom of the air; andzother. gases.,.-

I c-laim: I 1., y In; apparatus .for separating. gases from liquids, a chamber, means; for supplying thereto thelliquid to; be. degasified; agitating eansorer which. the. liquid is adaptedi to KI: uu

flow, means for supplying heating steam to the chamber for heating the liquid by direct contact therewith While being agitated, tubes constituting a closed heater below said agitating means, and pressure responsive means for supplying steam to said tubes at a temperature higher than the temperature in the chamber.

2. In apparatus for separating gases from liquids, a chamber, means for supplying thereto the liquid to be degasii'ied, agitating means over which the liquid is adapted to flow, means for supplying heating steam to the chamber for heating the liquid while being agitated, tubes below said agitating means, pressure responsive means for supplying steam to said tubes at a temperature higher than the temperature in the chamber, and a condenser for recovering the heat released in said chamber.

3. An apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising a chamber, means for supplying to said chamber the liquid to be degasified, agitating means over which the liquid is adapted to flow, heating tubes below said agitating means, and closed to said chamber, pressure responsive means for supplying to said tubes steam at a temperature above that of the space occupied by said agitating means, and other means for maintaining a steam atmosphere in said chamber.

4. An apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising a chamber, means for supplying to said chamber the liquid to be degasified, agitating means over which the liquid is adapted to flow, heating tubes below said agitating means and closed to said chamber, pressure responsive means for supplying to said tubes steam at a temperature above that of the space occupied by said agitating means, and means effective for recovering the heat of the vapors leaving said chamber and imparting the same to the liquid before delivery thereto.

5. An apparatus for separating gases from liquids, comprising a chamber, means for supplying to said chamber the liquid to be degasified, agitating means over which the liquid is adapted to flow, heating tubes below said agitating means and closed to said chamber, means for supplying to said tubes steam at a temperature above that of the space occupied by said agitating means, and pressure responsive means for supplying to said chamber steam at a temperature below that in said tubes.

6. Deaerating apparatus comprising a con taming shell, means for normally maintainmg a body of liquid in the lower portion of said shell, means for admitting incoming said shell, means for supplying heating steam to said element, means for supplying heating steam to the said containing shell above the liquid level therein and pressure responsive means for maintaining a temperature difi'erential between said submerged heating element and the space within said shell whereby ebullition of the said liquid body is insured.

7. In apparatus for separating gases from liquids, a chamber, tubes therein, a steam supply line delivering steam to said chamber and said tubes, pressure responsive means controlling the steam from said line to said chamber to insure a reduction in pressure between the steam in the tubes and the steam in the chamber, and means for passing liquid first to said chamber and then to the zone containing said tubes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

IVILLIAM S. ELLIOTT. 

